Who would have guessed that the director of Spanking the Monkey would turn into one of Hollywood’s darlings? I certainly didn’t. David O’ Russell has been on a winning streak since The Fighter. His latest film American Hustle racked up 10 Academy Award nominations but walked away empty handed on award’s night. Unlike most decisions by the Academy, there was good reason why.

Russell’s directing is near perfect and the entire cast brings their A-game, but the film invites comparisons to much more compelling movies. With such expectations the risks it takes are not high enough and the con game at its center is not slick enough.… Read the rest

Paul Thomas Anderson is emerging as one of the best filmmakers of our time. He certainly strives to create art. And like any artist not every work will be a success. Roger Ebert once said of Werner Herzog, “even his failures are spectacular.” The same can be said of Anderson; as both writer and director his latest film, The Master, is certainly a spectacular failure.

Anywhere the Wind Blows

This is not to say it isn’t worth watching. The problem with the film is that Freddie Quell, played by a perfectly hollowed Joaquin Phoenix, is the central character.

All you need to know about Freddie Quell is that he drinks paint thinner.… Read the rest